When does a character fall under the evil genius category? Victor Steingardt is the prototypical evil genius, (although admittedly not much), who is bent on ruling the world. At the start of the year, he picks up a journal and begins writing. Gary Patellas fiction, Diary of an Evil Genius, invites readers to follow this antiheros thoughts, taking a glimpse of how his mind works as his plans come to a close. Through his journal entries, readers are able to follow Victors plans. Some entries deal with global domination, while others go off on a tangent. Seasoned with witty and conceited remarks, Diary of an Evil Genius contains reflections of past events, and reflections on events of the day. Henchmen are also given some depth as they step into the spotlight. Each reader will have his or her own feelings about Victor the calculating, misogynistic, egotistical mastermind with the sole aim of global domination who tries to show that he is different from all of the others that have tried to rule the world. But whether he is loved or hated, his writings are sure to be enjoyed by many.

In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson opened the nation’s door to an era of reform. To help him, he brought to Washington men imbued with a progressive spirit—and in some, grudges as well! Before work on reforms got underway, two high ranking officials of the Treasury Department attacked a local bank over its banking practices. The bank officers had close ties to Wall Street; the Treasury officials were no friends of Wall Street (with scars to prove it). Aggressive bank examinations, hostile interviews, and accusatory letters ensued, eventually resulting in the bank filing an injunction against the government. But after an acrimonious court hearing, the injunction appeared to have failed. Indeed, a grand jury indicted the bank officers of perjury. In 1916, a three-week criminal trial of the bankers took place in which former Presidents Taft and Roosevelt appeared on behalf of the bankers. It was a cause celebre in the nation’s capital and much of the country. When the verdict was reached it was clear “bad blood” had been spilled everywhere—and this nasty, little war had been more than just about reform.

Lord Roberthall was economic adviser to a succession of Labour and Conservative governments from 1947 to 1961. During that time, he served under eight Chancellors and exercised more influence on economic policy than perhaps any other official. Fortunately – though it was contrary to Civil Service rules – he kept a diary in which he documented and reflected on day-to-day events. This second volume, published in 1991, covers the years between 1954 and 1961, after Robert Hall’s appointment as Economic Adviser to HM Government. The book includes details of conferences and negotiations in Australia, the United States and Canada, as well as accounts dealing with the struggles to contain inflation and moderate wages. This is a highly readable and fascinating account of what went on inside government in the post-war years. The book provides a unique picture of the relationship between Whitehall and Downing Street, and those people who shaped this challenging period in British economic history. Edited by Sir Alec Cairncross, who succeeded Lord Roberthall as Economic Adviser to HM Government in 1961, this reissue will interest any student researching policy and decision-making in the post-war period.